RAREST NEW YORK METS RECORD 1964 When The Mets Begin To Win +MAKER ARCHIVE PIECE

$

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RAREST NEW YORK METS RECORD 1964 When The Mets Begin To Win +MAKER ARCHIVE PIECE

WHEN THE METS BEGIN TO WIN / BED BUG BOSSA NOVA
The Wild Man, Al Ferrari
1964 / New York: Liza Records 45-1964
7" 45rpm Vinyl Record

Offered here is the rarest New York Mets record of them all.

This novelty record was the brainchild of Jordan Ramin, who at the time was co-writing Ted Williams' Boston Globe newspaper column, and was put out on the Liza Records label that was co-owned by Elizabeth Taylor and her step-son Mike Todd, Jr.

The record was released on June 24, 1964, and though it got a line in Earl Wilson's "Midnight Earl" syndicated enetertainment industry gossip column ["Mike Todd Jr.'s gone into the record business - the first disk will be "When the Mets Begin to Win" (and it better be a 1-o-n-g-p-l-a-y-i-n-g record...)"], the record was a complete flop.

The only radio deejays who played it were Jack Sterling (WCBS), Jim Lowe (WNEW) and Joe Franklin (WOR).

Interestingly, Jordan Ramin sent copies of the record to all the New York Mets players on July 8. He got back one acknowlegement, from third-base coach Don Heffner, who said he and his family loved it, didn't think it would outsell The Beatles, and suggested that if a copy had been sent to Yogi Berra, the Mets might have won the Mayor's Trophy Game. Defeating Yogi Berra's Yankees is part of the lyrics of the song.

Below I show a scan of this letter, which came from Jordan Ramin's archives, and I sold years ago. IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS LOT

HOWEVER...You WILL get a different item from the Jordan Ramin archives that is related to this record.

It's a WOTW Radio Top 20 promo sheet from the week of July 2-9, 1964, and it is probably the only radio hit sheet that lists this record, where it appears under the "Hit Singles Prediction" section, circled by Jordan Ramin in red.

In the April 1965 issue of HiFi/Stereo Review, Jordan Ramin wrote an article titled, "How To Produce A Smash Flop: It Isn't Easy To Make A Pop Single That Won't Sell. The Greatest Flop-Maker Of Our Times Reveals Some Of His Trade Secrets"

In it, he tells the story of this record, tongue in cheek:

"Last year I made my greatest flop. I planned it with my arranger, pianist Derek Smith, for weeks and weeks. We hired musicians like Barry Galbraith and Mousie Alexander. We would write a song for the New York Mets, to the tune of When the Saints Go Marching In, and have the greatest flop record ever made. We worked for hours on the song and finally came up with the key verse, to wit:

"Oh, When The Mets Begin To Win,
Oh, When The Mets Begin To Win,
All the losers will sing "Hallelujah"
When The Mets Begin To Win"

I knew I had a good one when, at the recording session, I overheard guitarist Galbraith mutter to Derek, "You must be kidding. I got to get out of here." Derek replied, "Oh, boy, is this a bad one!" I felt like Mantle belting one into the upper deck at Yankee Stadium.

My hopes were confirmed when the tape was turned down by thirty-five record companies. I was at the pinnacle. Not one trade paper would review the record. Even the Mets refused to be associated with it. And if the losingest team in baseball history turned it down, I had to have the greatest flop ever made."

But who is The Wild Man, Al Ferrari?

Al Ferrari was a jazz bass player who would soon play in the Doc Severinsen Sextet along with two other jazz musicians who played on "When The Mets Begin To Win": drummer Mousey Alexander and pianist Derek Smith.

However, at the time this record was made, Mike Todd, Jr. was attempting to turn Al Ferrari into a solo star, and so Todd's music producer, Jordan Ramin, was doing recording sessions of songs for Ferrari's first album.

The "Wild Man" concept they came up had Ferrari doing manic renditions of crazy songs. The "Wild Man" album was never released, and the only songs from those sessions to make it to wax are the two sides of this record.

The "lost" songs from the project include: "Tarzan and Cheetah" (done to the tune of "Frankie and Johnny"), a crazed version of "Old Macdonald", and a weird song titled, "My Girl Don't Dig Me".

Ramin and Ferrari also recorded a rarely-heard infamous version of "Bill Bailey" with the lyrics "Won't you come home, Liz Taylor?" hinting at her marital troubles with Richard Burton, and all the more remarkable considering that it was produced with the apparent blessing of her stepson, Mike Todd, Jr.!

I believe Al Ferrari might still be playing in jazz festivals in Florida.

A truly worthy addition to even the most advanced collection of New York Mets baseball memorabilia, or obscure novelty recording.

Condition: Record is in excellent condition. You will be very pleased. Generic paper sleeve might be original.

All photographs are of actual item.

Full refunds cheerfully given for any item that I have misdescribed.